secure the monopoly of trade at places too inconsiderable
to be settled as conquests is well described
by Dampier from his own personal observation,
ft For where,” says he, “ there is any trade to be
had, yet not sufficient to maintain a factory, or
where there may not be a convenient place to
build a fort, so as to secure the whole trade to
themselves, they send their guard-ships, which, lying
at the mouth of the rivers, deter strangers from
coming thither, and keep the petty princes in awe of
them. They commonly make a shew as if they did
this out of kindness to these people, yet most of
them know otherwise, but dare not openly resent it.
This probably causes so many petty robberies
and piracies as are committed by the Malayans on
this coast. The Malayans, who inhabit both
sides of the straits of Malacca, are in general a
bold people ; and yet I do not find any of them
addicted to robbery, but only the pilfering poorer
sort, and even these severely punished among the
trading Malayans, who have trade and property.
But being thus provoked by the Dutch, and hindered
of a free trade by their guafd-ships, it is probable
they, therefore, commit piracies themselves,
or connive at> or encourage those who do ; so that
the pirates who, lurk on this coast seem to do it as
much to revenge themselves on the Dutch for
restraining their trade, as to gain this way what
they cannot obtain in the way of traffic.” * Conduct
of the nature here related brought the European
character into the greatest discredit with all the
natives of the Archipelago, and the piratical character
which we have attempted to fix upon them,
might be most truly retaliated upon us. The petty
establishments supported by the Dutch to maintain
their compulsory regulations, lived, in the
midst of a hostile population, in a state of the utmost
terror, alarm, and degradation, never counting;
themselves for a moment • o secure but in their forts or ships, f
* Vol. II. p. 164*.
j- Dampier gives a very ludicrous picture of the condition
of the Dutch garrison of Pulo Dinding, lying off the coast
of the Malay state of Perah, and one of the establishments
in question. He is describing an entertainment given to
his commander and lady, by the Dutch governor. “ But
to return to the governor, he, to retaliate the captain’s and
Mr Richards’s kindness, sent a boat a-fishing, to get some
better entertainment for his guests than the fort yielded at
present. About four or five o’clock'the boat returned with
a good dish of fish. These were immediately dressed for
supper, and the boat was sent out again to get more for Mr
Richards and his lady to carry aboard with them. In the
mean time the food was brought into the dining-room, and
placed on the table. The dishes and plates were of silver,
and there was a silver punch-bowl full of liquor. The governor,
his guests, and some of his officers, were seated, but
just as they began to fall to, one of the soldiers cried out,